Category Archives: Conventions

Joss Whedon announced his new comic Twist at Comic Con today. He described it as, “It’s a Victorian thriller about a meek chambermaid who is fed to a dark horror — but instead of dying, she returns, with knowledge, power, and rage she can neither deny nor control,”… um… where do I sign up?… I mean to marry you Whedon. No, I want the comic book too, but mostly to MARRY YOU! Why are you running?

Preview Cover Art by Julian Totino Todesco and logo by Nate Piekos, but they aren’t expected to draw the series.

The comic is set to be released through Dark Horse and Whedon describes it as a steampunk-ey batman-esque style. Saying, “It basically deals with the most important question there is, which is…why isn’t there a Victorian female Batman?”

Unfortunately Twist is still in the making, there’s no release date yet, and no artist, but Whedon has been kicking this idea around for a while, so expect Twist to be all the amazing that we’ve come to expect and enjoy with SIR Whedon.

Okay Comic Con fans, stay tuned for Johnny’s advice and personal experience at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con. Everything from the lines, to the celebrity sightings. Panels, cosplay, and all things geek.

Look at that shiny badge. Jelly much? YES YES I AM!

Look at that cheeky bastard. Oh~~ the things he will see this weekend. Those sorts of things change a man… change ‘im forever.

A few months ago, Alan Tudyk released a crowd funding video of his new show Con Man featuring Nathan Fillion. They promised laughs and a sharp look into the reality of a man who is a one hit wonder. (No you’re not Wash! You are a leaf on the wind!)

And NOW there is an official trailer for the new show Con Man and it looks hilarious. From what I can gather in the trailer, a number of the Firefly cast is going to be featured in the series, so I’m pretty stoked, and Alan Tudyk is hilarious. I’m watching how you soar Wash, and I’m liking what I’m seeing~

Comic Con 2014 Pre-Registration (only open to those who obtained a 2013 single or 4-day badge) has come and gone. The internet was filled with varying emotions; cries of anger, last minute efforts, tears, joy, satisfaction, and elation all very common. Which emotion did you succumb to? Did you get your 2014 badge?

If the answer to the above question is a resounding “No!” then I’m here to tell you… “Fear not!” You still have a chance with the upcoming “Open Registration,” which, as the name implies, is open to the public (as long as you have a Member ID). The worst part of that last sentence is that Open Reg is an even worse experience than Preregistration. Random page refreshes, time-outs, and any number of things can go wrong and boot you out of the waiting room, a waiting room that you may or may not even be able to enter due to scheduling/work conflicts.

In case you can’t read it, that says #46465 place in line.

So what if you don’t get a badge at all? Is it worth traveling to sunny San Diego? Can you still have fun at Comic Con without entering the Con? Of course the answer is “Yes!”

For the past three years I have flown out to San Diego without a badge. Every year I try. Every year I fail. Maybe it’s my ISP. Maybe I’m not the “fastest nerd in the West” on a keyboard. Who knows where the fault lies. What I can tell you is that with or without a badge (I’ve managed to get one each year after making it to the Gaslamp District thanks to some amazing people!) San Diego Comic Con is something I couldn’t imagine my life without.

What can I do WITHOUT a Comic-Con Badge?

Of course, I am a champion for Nerd HQ. That’s my main attraction each year. With fantastic panels (which are also hard to score tickets for), video games, dance parties, free giveaways, drinks, a ton of like-minded people, and a fantastic volunteer staff that is incredibly welcoming, you cannot go wrong here.

But Nerd HQ isn’t the only off-site location. There are a TON of these little pocket-cons popping up all over the place. 2013 saw Geek and Sundry’s first appearance, taking over Jolt’n’Joes giving nerds a chance to play board games with the likes of Wil Wheaton, try out new video games from developers new and old, and so much more. There has never been a better place to profess your love for all things geek/nerd/gamer than the Gaslamp District during San Diego Comic Con. The local shops get in on the fun as well, often hosting TV shows and theming their establishments out accordingly.

You’ll never do it better.

And that’s just during the day. At night, as it is with any downtown location, the Gaslamp comes alive. Now, admittedly, you’re going to get the club crowd. People who don’t really mesh well with your Captain Mal cosplay. But when have you ever let that crowd ruin your fun? There are after parties EVERYWHERE. Walking around the Gaslamp and discovering new locations is an incredible experience that I’d recommend every one do each year. You’ll find nerdy low-key and chill areas at various hotel lounges, elbow-to-elbow tech on every table bars and restaurants, and video game paradises all throughout. There is honestly something for everyone here. And these are just the FREE things you can do.

There are plenty of paid-to-enter events like the Walking Dead Escape Zombie Run where volunteers dress up as zombies and are tasked with “killing” you before you make it out of a pretty decent obstacle course. Glenn and Rick cosplayers welcome.

The moral of the story here, folks, is that if you didn’t score your badge yet and you continue to come up short, it’s not that big of a deal. There’s so much more to do at Comic Con than JUST Comic Con. Get a group of your closest nerd friends, what some might call your “Contourage,” and get your butts down to San Diego for what will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your year, every year.

As a side, you’re also traveling to San Diego, one of the most beautiful cities in the continental United States. If you don’t have a badge and somehow run out of things to do, or if you stick around after the Con, there are a multitude of places you can go just to check out the scenery that are also FREE. And, if you’re lucky like I’ve been, you might just find yourself inside the Con anyway. Basically, come to San Diego, you won’t regret it!

So another Comikaze Expo has come and gone, this one presented by the great Stan Lee himself. It was definitely a huge step up from last years. Here are few random thoughts:

– Comikaze has a lot of potential. In only its second year they did a much better job overall. Just having actual meeting rooms for the panels made a huge difference and having a convention floor instead of a parking garage was nice. They had a decent range of panels as well.

– I like the venders better than the ones at SDCC. Sometimes SDCC feels like a flea market. Comikaze had a lot of local companies plus a lot more unique and original products (as opposed to the myriad of junky action figure and T-shirt booths.)

– Seems like there was more people here this year. I don’t know final numbers but I would guess around 25,000 or so.

The Bad:

-Okay everyone has been ranting about this so it is a little repetitive but the ticket line was absurd. People were waiting two hours outside in the 90 degree weather! They absolutely have to speed this process up. That being said, after how bad it was this year I am sure they will.

While it will never be SDCC, Comikaze has potential and it was fun. I love cons. I love the creativity, the artist the costumes and panels. I think I might have a con addiction, I am calling it Confluenza.

If you are into geeky stuff (who isn’t?) and going to be in the Los Angeles area this weekend (again who isn’t?) then you should come on out to the Comikaze Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. It is being billed as the largest (i.e. only) pop culture convention in L.A. Now it’s second year Comikaze has grown. This year they are even adding a zombie run! So is the epicness of Comic-con has left you itching for more than this might just scratch it for a while. I enjoy the con environment. Even if it isn’t as huge as many others, I still enjoy the artist, the costumes and creativity. Anyway, come on out and support the movement, after all if Stan Lee is going to be there then you should to!

It’s here! San Diego Comic Con International 2012 starts tonight! For all you art print collectors, Mondo Tees has a lot in store for this year’s SDCC. They’ll be at booth #437 and will be releasing over 15 new posters as well as a few of their archives throughout the con.

Most of the posters won’t be revealed until the moment they go on sale at the booth. They’ll be announced via twitter (@MondoNews), so keep on eye out.

Mondo did tease us with a pretty nice reveal for a few of their posters. In partnership with HBO, they will release a series of Game of Thrones screen prints by 3 different artists – Vania Zouravliov, Daniel Danger and Martin Ansin (posters pictured below respectively). Each poster will be priced at $50.

Aaaah! SDCC is right around the corner! You’ve got your panel line up planned, but what about your the exhibit hall? Amidst all the chaos, your favorite exhibitors also have some great events, giveaways, and creator signings scheduled at their booths. Dark Horse announced their booth schedule today and they’ve got some pretty exciting stuff lined up, including signings with The Goon creator, Eric Powell, Angel and Faith writer, Christos Gage, Felicia Day, and . . . . . Joss Whedon!!!

Rejoice! San Diego Comic Con 2012 is less than a month away and we’re getting ready with our Countdown to Comic Con. We’re starting with a list of quick tips for all the SDCC virgins out there. Last year was my very first Comic Con experience and I was nowhere near prepared for how insane the Con can get. So for those of you heading to SDCC for the first time, here’s a list of tips I wish I’d known last year:

1. Dress comfortably:

We know you want to dress to impress with your favorite geek chic accessories, but just remember that you’re going to be at the convention center all day either standing in lines, walking around the exhibit floor, or making a mad dash to the next panel. Comfortable and practical footwear shouldn’t be taken lightly. Flip flops might seem like a safe option, until you think about the hordes of people ready to trample all over your feet to get to that free SWAG before you, so stick to sneakers and tennis shoes. San Diego temperatures can very from mild to hot during July, and the convention halls can be anywhere from chilly to stuffy, so dress light, but bring along a jacket or sweater just in case.

2. Pack light:

Sure a backpack with your laptop, a few of your favorite trades, and that Game of Thrones book you’re hoping to get signed, won’t be too much trouble right? Think again. Backpacks are bulky hassle, a better option would be small messenger bag or sling bag to carry the essentials. With all the freebies being given out, you will definitely end the day with more than you started. The smaller your personal bag, the easier it will be to carry your gigantic filled-to-the brim SDCC swag bag.

3. Bring a poster tube:

Of all the items I didn’t think to bring to last year’s SDCC this was the one I wish I had the most. It’s practically raining posters inside the show room (so many paper cuts!!). While you’re likely to toss most of them, there’s going to be a few that you’ll want to keep. If you’re a print collector, you’ll definitely need a poster tube to keep that new Mondo piece in mint condition. Last year’s swag bag had a poster compartment, but they did very little to protect from all the people pushing past you to get their hands on a free collectible. A sturdy poster tube will protect your new posters from being crushed by the crazed hordes.

4. Power up . . . and bring an extra battery:

Live bloggers, tweeters, and social media butterflies, this applies especially to you. Whether it’s your phone, tablet, or laptop, at the worst possible time during a day at the Con, your battery will die and you will be without your precious interwebs!. Wifi and 3G service are notoriously unreliable inside the convention center and trying to get a decent connection is going to drain your battery before you even make it inside Hall H. Sure, there are charging stations, but they aren’t always going to be conveniently located. Make sure before you head out each day that all your tech gear is fully charged. If you plan on being on your mobile devices a lot, consider getting an external battery pack.

5. Know your way around:

Before you hit the exhibit floor, get an idea of where your favorite and must see booths are (the website and SDCC info book will have a list of the booth numbers and locations), especially if you plan on getting exclusives from Mattel, Hasbro, Mondo, etc. Otherwise, you’ll spend a lot of time searching, which could cost you that last collectible. The exhibit floor is going to be guaranteed chaos so it’s good to know ahead of time what direction you should headed. Additionally, on your first day of the con, make a mental note of where all the hotspots both inside and outside the convention center are, including, bathrooms, charging centers, the line entry for Hall H and Ballroom 20, etc.

6. Have a back up panel . . .or 3:

No matter how carefully you’ve planned your SDCC line up, there will be more than one panel that you’re just not going to make it to, especially if you plan on going to some of the larger, more popular panels. Remember those crazy Twilight fans last year who camped out overnight last year? This year may not be as extreme, but just in case you have to miss out on your first choice, have a few backs ups. Smaller panels, while they may not have as much hype, can be just as much, if not more fun, and the smaller setting can actually be a more exciting, intimate experience.

7. Bring snacks/water:

With all the chaos of the Con, food and water tend to be lower on the list or priorities when you’re planning your day. However, when hunger and thirst do kick in, your options inside the convention center will be limited, expensive, and there will definitely be a line. Save yourself some time and money by bringing along a refillable water bottle and some light snacks to tide you over until you can get some real food in the nearby Gaslamp Quarter.

8. RSVP to after parties:

In recent years, SDCC has become much more than just the convention itself and has expanded into the surrounding Gaslamp Quarter. During the day, many exhibitors will have their own lounges, fan experiences, and displays at restaurants, hotels, and parks just across the street from the convention center. At night, those same locations become venues for SDCC after parties, both elite and casual. While you may not be able to get into the more exclusive parties, such as IGN, MTV, or Nerd HQ, there will be plenty of events catered to the fans. Many will require an advance RSVP so keep an eye out on Eventbrite, Twitter, and FB in the next few weeks for information on how. When the Con, gets closer, we’ll have a more definitive list of SDCC after parties.

9. Use social media:

Social media presence gets bigger each year at the con, and this year is no exception. Last year, I used Twitter to network and arrange a tweet-up, which is how I came to meet the guys of BabbleOn 5. Exhibits like the South Park Fan Experience partnered with Foursquare and gave a free shirt with every check in while Cowboys and Aliens tweeted the whereabouts of some mysterious golden bricks (which contained pretty sweet shirts and toys, as well as a chance to win tickets to the movie premiere). Whether it’s checking in on FourSquare for a freebie, using the SDCC app to find a back up panel, or following your favorite SDCC nerds on Twitter for some inside scoop, social media is going to your lifeline for knowing what’s what at SDCC.

10. Take your time:

Even for the comic con veterans, SDCC can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to get sucked into the pressure of rushing to experiencing everything. There’s always another panel to go wait in line for, another celebrity signing you just have to be at, or elite party you have to get into. Unfortunately, no matter how awesome whatever panel or party or random happenstance you’re at, you’re going to be missing out on something else going on, and that’s ok. What’s important is that whatever you’re doing at the moment is epic to you. Slow down and enjoy yourself. You’re finally at San Diego Comic Con!